Walter are they just offerring to pay for damages but not offering an apology for storming an Iraqi jail in the first place?
Maybe if the Bush administration relied on intelligence that didn't fit their preconceived notions and planned accordingly things might of went smoother.
http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2005-10-11-cia-iraq-report_x.htm
CIA review faults prewar plans
By John Diamond, USA TODAY
The British consulate general and the provincial council of Basra expressed the "regret" of the British Army.
It seems British forces have lost control in S Iraq, if they every had it in the first place. From the outset they conceded much local power to the Shiite militia for a quiet life, now we realise they in turn are controlled from Tehran. If the Iranians ever sent a division over the border British troops would have no option but to retreat.
Walter Hinteler wrote:The British consulate general and the provincial council of Basra expressed the "regret" of the British Army.
Does that mean that they regret it happened or regret it had to happen?
semantics and war go well together.
I can't find the full text of the statement online, but her are some quotations, as reported in the
Telegarph
Quote:[...]
We also regret the casualties on both sides and the material damage to public facilities," the statement said. "The British Government is prepared to pay valid claims for compensation for casualties and material damage in the well-established manner."
It expressed full support for the "dignity of the institutions and people of the Governorate of Basra and the sovereignty of Iraq" and said "those connected to the events" would be dealt with in accordance with the legislation of the former Coalition Provisional Authority.
"This incident and other shooting incidents are subject to stringent official review. We hope to avoid a repetition of such incidents."
[...]
Going from what I read from your quotes, I don't think they are regetting invading their jail, just regetting it happened. I doubt it impresses the town much but if they do come through with the money to pay for the damages; that might.
Like CI said, semantics and war go well together. sadly enough.
revel, That was not me; it was Steve.
sorry CI and Steve, I really need to read and check my posts more.
I've mixed people on a2k myself, so my heart is a forgiving one. LOL
Things aren't looking too good in Iraq after all:
Sunni Leaders Offer Mixed Views of Deal on Constitution
Save Article
By DEXTER FILKINS
Published: October 12, 2005
BAGHDAD, Iraq, Oct. 12 - Sunni leaders offered a mixed reaction today to a deal designed to improve the prospects of Iraq's constitution, which is set to go before Iraqi voters in a nationwide referendum on Saturday.
Karim Kadim/Associated Press
A suicide bomber killed at least 20 Iraqis and wounded 30 others at an army recruiting center near Tal Afar today.
Names of the Dead (October 12, 2005)
Forum: The Transition in Iraq
A number of religious and political leaders among the Sunnis - who form the backbone of the guerrilla insurgency - said they would continue to oppose the charter. The Iraqi Islamic Party, the country's largest Sunni political party agreed to support it in exchange for an amendment that could allow substantial changes after the National Assembly is chosen in December.
Among those continuing to reject the constitution was the powerful Association of Muslim Scholars, which represents hundreds of Sunni clerics from across the country. At least two other Sunni leaders, including Adnan Al Dulaimi, of the Conference of the Iraqi People, and Kamal Hamdoon, a Sunni member of the constitutional drafting committee, said they would continue to oppose the constitution.
"We do not tell the Iraqi people how to act, but we are against this constitution because we think it encourages the sectarian division of this country," Isam Al Rawi of the Association of Muslim Scholars said.
But at least one influential Sunni leader , Mahmood Al Mashahadani, declared that he had decided to endorse the constitution and would urge Iraqis to approve it.
"It's a hard fact that if we want to want to achieve our demands of freeing the country from occupation, we have to engage in the political process to do so," Mr. Mashahadani said in an interview. "We will call on all the voters to say 'yes,' because there is no meaning in saying 'no.' "
There were faint signs of movement among other Sunni leaders as well. Former President Ghazi Yawar, who had conspicuously failed to show up in August for a ceremony announcing the completion of the constitution, publicly endorsed it today.
The National Assembly approved the revisions to the draft constitution this evening when no one raised any objections to the proposal. There was no vote.
Quote:"It's a hard fact that if we want to want to achieve our demands of freeing the country from occupation, we have to engage in the political process to do so," Mr. Mashahadani said in an interview. "We will call on all the voters to say 'yes,' because there is no meaning in saying 'no.' "
I hope more Sunni's listen to him for the sake of their independence. They may not realize it but they do have the power in their own hands to make the US leave. We promised to leave if asked and if the leaders in power ask the US to leave, we will have no choice but to do so or there will be no denying that the solvency of Iraq is but an illusion.
They surely must realize that they do not have the power to actually drive us out by force and I really doubt that the US will withdraw and risk being seen as running at the scene of an accident so to speak. This situation could go on indefinitely in this manner whereas if they started participating in their own government and then demanded that the US leave, they will achieve their goal of an independent Iraq even if it is different than some of them wanted. They should balance not wanting to have anything to do with a government formed under US control and the practicality wanting the US to leave.
But it always easy to see what others need to do and spout it off a zillion miles away as though you know everything, huh?
People compare Iraq and Vietnam; I don't really know the history of Vietnam but it seems to me leaving Iraq while it is internally unstable is different than leaving a country where they were not fighting among themselves but just fighting us. ( I don't know quite how to word what I mean.)Since that wasn't taking place before we came, I just feel we are morally bound to stay (in Iraq) and deal with it unless asked to leave.
This reveals al Qaeda's true intent better than anything published in TOMNOM (i.e., The Oxy-Moron News-Opinion Media).
www.dni.gov/release_letter_101105.html
Quote:Letter from al-Zawahiri to al-Zarqawi
October 11, 2005
ODNI News Release No. 2-05
Today the Office of the Director of National Intelligence released a letter between two senior al Qa'ida leaders, Ayman al-Zawahiri and Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, that was obtained during counterterrorism operations in Iraq. This lengthy document provides a comprehensive view of al Qa'ida's strategy in Iraq and globally.
The letter from al-Zawahiri to al-Zarqawi is dated July 9, 2005. The contents were released only after assurances that no ongoing intelligence or military operations would be affected by making this document public.
The document has not been edited in any way and is released in its entirety in both the Arabic and English translated forms. The United States Government has the highest confidence in the letter's authenticity.
Al-Zawahiri's letter offers a strategic vision for al Qa'ida's direction for Iraq and beyond, and portrays
al Qa'ida's senior leadership's isolation and dependence.
Among the letter's highlights are discussions indicating:
The centrality of the war in Iraq for the global jihad.
From al Qa'ida's point of view, the war does not end with an American departure.
An acknowledgment of the appeal of democracy to the Iraqis.
The strategic vision of inevitable conflict, with a tacit recognition of current political dynamics in Iraq; with a call by al-Zawahiri for political action equal to military action.
The need to maintain popular support at least until jihadist rule has been established.
Admission that more than half the struggle is taking place "in the battlefield of the media."
Letter in Arabic Letter in English
Letter in Arabic
www.dni.gov/letter_in_arabic.pdf
Letter in English
www.dni.gov/letter_in_english.pdf
How can anyone view the situation in Iraq and see anything but a bloody cluster phuk?
Quote:
Parliament met to hear the constitutional "amendments" read on Wednesday in Baghdad, but did not actually vote on them. The speaker of the house, Hajim al-Hasani, said that a vote was "not necessary." Only 157 parliamentarians were present, and parliament had earlier announced a recess of several weeks. Was it that they could not muster a convincing number of votes for the constitution under these circumstances. I just scratch my head at "amendments" to the "constitution" that are "adopted" but never voted on by parliament. Things are being done by powerful party leaders dickering with one another in closed rooms thick with cigarette smoke, and then just announced. No vote is necessary. It has all been taken care of already. Iraq has gone from being a dictatorship to being an oligarchy.
Source
Gelisgesti wrote:How can anyone view the situation in Iraq and see anything but a bloody cluster phuk?
Quote:
Parliament met to hear the constitutional "amendments" read on Wednesday in Baghdad, but did not actually vote on them. The speaker of the house, Hajim al-Hasani, said that a vote was "not necessary." Only 157 parliamentarians were present, and parliament had earlier announced a recess of several weeks. Was it that they could not muster a convincing number of votes for the constitution under these circumstances. I just scratch my head at "amendments" to the "constitution" that are "adopted" but never voted on by parliament. Things are being done by powerful party leaders dickering with one another in closed rooms thick with cigarette smoke, and then just announced. No vote is necessary. It has all been taken care of already. Iraq has gone from being a dictatorship to being an oligarchy.
Source
This is not good news or bode well for democracy over there.
Violence struck yesterday after that guy, Mr. Mashahadani, spoke in the interview.
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/10/14/international/middleeast/14cnd-iraq.html
Quote:October 14, 2005
Insurgents Bomb Office of Sunni Group Backing Iraqi Charter
By EDWARD WONG
BAGHDAD, Iraq, Oct. 14 - Sunni Arab leaders who have endorsed the latest draft of the new constitution strongly defended their show of support on Thursday, saying recent compromises on the document will spur recalcitrant Sunnis to take part in coming elections.
They made their remarks a day after several prominent Sunni Arabs denounced the compromises, and right after a powerful hard-line Sunni group, the Muslim Scholars Association, urged Iraqis to vote "no."
Today, insurgents apparently trying to derail this weekend's referendum, bombed an office of Iraq's largest Sunni Arab political party after the group dropped its opposition to the draft constitution, the Associated Press reported.
There were no immediate reports of injuries in the attack outside the office of the Iraqi Islamic Party office in Fadhal, in central Baghdad. The attack was rare in that it targeted Sunnis, the ethnic group behind the insurgency, and appeared aimed at punishing the party for deciding to end its "no" campaign.
Things are looking bad in Iraq. From the BBC:
Iraq Sunni party offices attacked
Three offices of an Iraqi Sunni party which dropped its opposition to the new constitution have been attacked, a day before a referendum on the text.
In Baghdad, a bomb exploded outside the office of the Iraqi Islamic Party.
Gunmen set fire to the party's office in the western city of Falluja, and ransacked its office in Baiji, north of Baghdad. No injuries were reported.
Many Sunni parties oppose the text, and have called on Iraqis to boycott the poll or vote "No".
